Staff Development - You are hired! How do I create a successful team?
Have FUN! Show new hires the positive energy you expect them to have by showing them your own. Get them excited about their new position and your company. Prep your team on the new hire before they walk through the door. They should know their name and some facts you learned during their interview. Initial greetings should be welcoming such as "Hey Ted, I am our lead bartender, I can't wait to chat about your craft beer knowledge." This behavior should transition to your guests experience. Allow them to follow your top staff and see what the day to day is going to look like before jumping into training. Use your pre-shift meeting to celebrate your new hire and get them excited to be part of an awesome team. Review our Food Forethought - Improve Communication Through Shift Prep Best Practices for more pre-shift tips and tricks.
Knowledge is an important tool in any employees belt. Take the time to build out a thoughtful training program so your staff is confident on their first solo shift. They don't have to know everything as there should be constant knowledge growth opportunities built in to their day to day but they should be comfortable speaking to guests and making recommendations.
- Training Documentation - As part of training, you should be able to provide a comprehensive take home welcome package so that they can learn your company policies, culture, and menus. Include menus with ingredient breakdown as well as additional facts and suggested upsell notes.
- Menu Tests - Test their knowledge through bite size menu tests. Study each part of the menu and then take a test after sufficient time to learn. Studying should be done during training and at home.
- Share Current Initiatives - Your team should be aware of current company initiatives right away. Let them be apart of it and ask for their feedback. They may bring fresh ideas and insight or at the very least they get the opportunity to be involved. Share your current initiatives Dashboard.
Retention - Now that I have a great team, how do I keep them?
Great employees are your most valuable asset. Retention of employees and means retention of regular guests. You may return for a great steak on occasion but you are much more likely to frequent repeat guest for the experience and that begins and ends with the service.
Mentor High Opportunity Servers
Mentoring High Opportunity Servers
Regular One on Ones
Contests
Sales Contests drive revenue, create a fun and competitive shift, and provides an opportunity to reward your team for their performance.
Rewards
- Free Item - Bottle of Wine / Free Meal
- Time Off - Free Saturday Off
- Pick your shifts (for a week or allotted time frame)
- Gift Card
- Pick your Section
Data Red Flags
- Service Summary Report - PPA consistently lowers
- Labor Summary Trends Working less hours